Exhaust machine



G. E. OTT ET AL EXHAUST MACHINE July 1, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledMarch 15, 1957 lnven tovs: George E. OL' L, Donatji B. TOTT", by 02% 1,

Their A iznvneg July 1, 1958 G. E. OTT ETAL V EXHAUST MACHINE 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 15, 1957 mm a 3 W A m9 F a: 2 um U u "a; x& Ji m i 3 \2 Z Z .l .6 7 8 W F w EUR 1 v 4 M M w r 4 M w" 5 I M. TI." 11 55 20; Q R i F k a m o v F/Wm T B nfid i i m m mmwm D T Uu ID UnitedStates Patent F 2,341,179 EXHAUST MACHINE George E. Ott, Eastlake, andDonald B. Torr, Cleveland, Ohio, assignors to General Electric Company,a cor poration of New York Application March 15, 1957, Serial No.646,376

8 Claims. (Cl. 137-634) Our invention relates, in one of its aspects, toan exhaust and gas filling machine and, in another of its aspects, to anovel camming mechanism especially useful in such a machine but alsohaving a more general application.

It is an object of our invention to provide a machine for exhaustingand/ or gas filling a container or envelope, such as an electric lampbulb, wherein the valves are operated by a novel cam arrangement in apredetermined cyclic pattern and providing for improved control of theoperation. It is a further object to provide a novel cam arrangementwherein certain camming functions are divided between separate cams onseparate'shafts revolving at different predetermined speeds and whichmake is possible to perform certain cyclic operations which, if derivedfrom a single cam, would provide insuificient camming surface foraccurate control or, alternatively, would require a cam of inordinatelylarge size.

Further features and advantages of our invention will appear from thefollowing description of a species thereof and from the drawingswherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a semi-automatic machine for exhaustingand gas filling electricincandescent lamps and which embodies ourinvention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevation, in section, of means for connectingthe lamp with an electrical. current supply;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevation, in section, of a valve assembly andan exhaust port supported thereby;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the valve assembly and exhaust port; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the valve-operating cam assembly. I

Referring to Fig.1, the lamp 1 to be exhausted is of the well-knownhigh-wattage bipost type comprising a glass bulb 2 having a glass neckor base portion with a pair of metal terminal prongs or posts 3projecting therefrom and a glass exhaust tube 4 also extending therefrombetween the posts 3 and communicating with the interior of the bulb. Theposts 3 support a filament structure (not shown) within the bulb 2. Thelamp is placed base down on a platform 5 with the posts 3 and exhausttube 4 extending through openings therein. The platform 5 (Fig. 2) iscomposed of a sheet 6 of stainless steel, a sheet 7 of asbestos andaplate 8 of ordinary steel. The lamp is also supported by pairs ofasbestos buttons 9 on three T-shaped supports 10 mounted on the platform5. The platform is resiliently supported from a table 11 by legscomposed of spring-loaded telescoping pairs of hollow columns 12 and 13.

The exhaust. tube 4 of the lamp fits into a manually operatedcompression chuck or exhaust port 14 (Fig. 3) of'a conventional typewherein the tube 4 is clamped by a rubber ring 15 which is compressed byrotation of a nut 16 by means of a handle or arm 17 attached thereto.

The chuck 14 is mounted on an assembly 18 of three mechanically operatedpoppet valves (Figs. 3 and 4), one (19) for rough or preliminary vacuum,one (26) for fine vacuum and the other (21) for nitrogen gas. The ex-2,841,179 Patented July 1, 1958 as 5hr haust valves 19 and 20 aresimilar in construction, and the stems of each of the three valves aresealed by diaphragms 18.

During the exhaust process, the lamp 1 is preferably baked by heatderived from lighting of its filament. Electrical connection is made tothelamp, through its terminal posts 3, by means of a pair of contactblocks 22 (Fig. 2) fitted with spring clips 23. The blocks 22 arecarried by an insulating plate or disc 24 which slides on studs 25attached to the plate 8 and which is provided with an aperture 26 forpassage of the exhaust tube 4 therethrough. The contacts blocks 22 areraised into engagement with the lamp posts 3 by a downward thrust on alever 27 which is pivoted at 28 (Fig. 1) and has a yokeshaped end, eacharm of which is connected by a pin 29 to a link 30 which is connected bya pin 31 at its other end to a bracket 32 fixed to the plate member 24.

During the exhausting operation, the lamp 1 is enclosed in a cylindricalshield 33 which is suspended from its closed top by a chain 34 whichruns over suitable pulleys or sprockets, one of which is shown at 35 inFig. 1. The other end of the chain is attached to a suitablecounterweight 36, and the shield 33 is preferably arranged to be guidedby engagement of rollers thereon (not shown) with a pair of verticalrails 37 from which the pulleys 35 are supported by the cross member 38and bracket 39. The shield 33 comprises three concentric cylinders 40,41 and 42 of sheet metal, the first two being of polished stainlesssteel and having an insulating filling 43 therebetween, and the thirdcylinder being spaced "from the second to provide for a draft of coolingair therebetween. The shield 33 is retained in its lowermost position bya pivotally mounted latch 44 on the platform 5.

, The poppet valve assembly 18 is actuated by a cam assembly and drivingmeans mounted on a shelf 45 of the R. P. .M., and the shaft 51 at a rateof A; R. P. M., the

.shaft 51 making one revolution during the processing of each lamp.

The rough vacuum valve 19 is actuated by a cam 52 on shaft 51 through afollower lever 53 which is pivoted on a pin 54 in a bracket 55 on table11. The lever 53 is connected at one end to the stem of valve 19 andhas, at its other end, a roller 56 engaging the cam 52.

The fine vacuum valve 20 and nitrogen gas valve 21 are each actuated bya unique cam arrangement wherein the camming function for each valve isdivided between one or a-ipair of actuating cams on shaft 48 and ashifter cam on the slower speed shaft 51 which serves to connect afollower means with said actuating cam or one or the other of said pairof actuating cams on shaft 48 or to place said follower means in aneutral position where it is out of engagement with either cam. Thatarrange- -ment provides for a "better control of the operations,

.eliminates cam time for inactive periods in the cycle, and dividestheactive cam time between the two cams, thereby avoiding the need for acam of extremely large size.

The nitrogen valve 21 is actuated by a follower lever 57 which ispivoted on a pin 58 and has its upperarm 59 connected to the stem ofvalve 21. The lower arm 60 of lever 57 has a shiftable end portion 61pivoted thereto at 62 and carrying rollers 63 and 64 at its lower end.The said end portion. 61 of arm 60 is connected by a horizontalspring-loaded connecting rod 65 to an end of a follower arm 66 which ispivoted at its other end on a pin 67 and which carriers a roller 68 inengagement with a shifter cam 69 on shaft 51. The said cam 69 thusserves to shift the end portion 61 of lever arm 60, at

3 predetermined times, to bring the roller 63 into engagement with a cam70 on shaft 48, or to bring roller 64 into engagement with a cam 71, orto place the arm portion 61 in a neutral position between the actuatingcams 70 and 71. i

In a similar arrangement, the fine vacuum valve 20 is actuated by apivotally mounted lever 75 (Fig. which is connected at one end to thestem of valve 20 and at its other end to a link 76 which is connected toa follower arm 77 which is pivoted on a pin 78. The arm 77 has ashiftable lower end portion 79 pivoted thereon at 80 and-carryingrollers 81 and 82 which are engageable with respective cams 83 and 84 ormovable to a neutral position between those cams by action of a shiftercam 85 which is mounted on shaft 51 and which actuates end portion 79 ofarm 77 through a horizontal connecting rod 86 and follower arm 87 whichis pivoted at its lower end on the pin 67 and which carries a roller 89engaging cam 85.

In the operation of the device, the lamp 1 is placed in position on theplatform 5 and supporting rollers 9, the rubber sealing ring of thecompression chuck 14 is tightened by rotating the arm 17, the contactblocks 22 are engaged with the terminal posts 3 of the lamp by adownward thrust on the lever 27 (although the lamp is not therebyconnected to the power supply, this being performed at a later time by aswitch actuated by a cam 88 on the shaft 51), and the shield or hood 33is pulled down around the lamp.

The motor 46 is then connected to a current supply source to start theexhaust and gas filling cycle which is composed of five periods in thiscase. In the first period, the air is extracted from the lamp, withoutapplication of heat, by connecting the lamp to the rough vacuum for aperiod a little more than one minute. The second period is a flushingcycle during which the lamp is alternately filled with nitrogen to apressure of 200 mms., for example, and then exhausted to nearly zeropressure by the fine vacuum source. The gas may be admitted andwithdrawn about nine times during this period. In the third period,which is another flushing cycle, the filament of the lamp is lighted andthe lamp is alternately connected to the nitrogen supply and to the finevacuum for predetermined times such as to cause the pressure of the gasin the lamp to vary between about 400 mms. and about 200 mms., forexample. The admission and withdrawal of the gas may also occur aboutnine times during this period. In the fourth period, the power supply tothe filament is turned off and the lamp is given a final exhaust. In thefifth period, the lamp is brought up to a predetermined final fillingpressure of nitrogen, the valves to both the rough and fine vacuumsources being closed. At this time, the lamp is still warm and the gaspressure therein is about 100 mms. above atmospheric. When the lamp hascooled sufficiently to cause the gas pressure to drop below atmospheric,the operator seals it off by fusing the exhaust tube 4 at a point closeto the base or neck portion of the bulb between the posts 3.

At the start of the exhaust and gas filling operation, the setting ofthe cams 52, 85 and 69 and shaft 51 is approximately as shown in Figs. 1and S, and all three valves 19, and 21 are closed. The rough vacuumvalve 19 is held outwardly in its closed position by lever 53 which hasits roller 56 in engagement with an end portion of the extended highsurface 90 of cam 52. The fine vacuum valve 20 and the nitrogen valve 21are held in respective outward and inward closed positions by therespective arm 77 and lever 57 which have their shiftable arm portions79 and 61 held in neutral positions between respective pairs of cams 83,84 and 70, 71 by virtue of the fact that the rollers 89 and 68 are inengagement with corresponding surfaces 91 and 92 of intermediate heighton the respective cams 85 and 69.

The first period (preliminary exhaust) in the cycle starts when theshaft 51 has rotated clockwise sufiiciently to bring the low surface 93of cam opposite the roller 56 to permit the lever 53 to be pivotedclockwise and thereby open the rough vacuum valve 19. The lamp 1 isthereby connected through its exhaust tube 4 and passages 94 and 95(Fig. 3) in the body of the valve assembly 18, with a conduit 96(Fig. 1) leading to a source of rough vacuum. The lamp is therebyexhausted during rotation of the cam 52 through an angle of about 45corresponding to a period of a little more than one minute, before theroller 56 again engages the surface 90 of cam 52 where it remains forthe rest of the entire cycle. During this first period, the intermediateportions 91 and 92 of respective shifter earns 85 and 69 remain inengagement with rollers 89 and 68 to hold the shiftable arms 79 and 61in their neutral positions so that the fine vacuum valve 20 and thenitrogen valve 21 remain closed.

Shortly thereafter, the second period (a flushing cycle) begins whencorresponding low surfaces 97 and 98 of respective shifter cams 85 and69 come into engagement with rollers 89 and '68, respectively, to causethe arm portions 79 and 61 to be shifted to the left to bring theirrollers 81 and 63 into registry with respective actuating earns 83 and70. This shift occurs at a time when the respective low surfaces 99 and100 of cams 83 and 70 are opposite the said rollers 81 and 63 which areurged toward said cams by springs 77 and 57 but are held slightly awayfrom actual engagement with said surfaces by the engagement of valves 20and 21 with their seats. Upon rotation of the cams 83 and 70, the finevacuum valve 20 and the nitrogen valve 21 are alternately opened byengagement of the high surfaces 101 and 102 of cams 83 and 70 withrespective rollers 81 and 63, and closed when the low surfaces 99 and100 come opposite the said rollers. The valve 20, when opened, connectsthe exhaust tube 4 of the lamp, through passages 94 and 95, with aconduit 103 leading to a source of fine vacuum. Similarly, the valve 21,when opened, connects the lamp exhaust tube 4, through passages 94 and95, with a conduit 104 leading to a source of nitrogen of predeterminedflow rate. The timing of the valves 20 and 21 by the cams 83 and 70 isso correlated with the flow of the nitrogen supply and the capacity ofthe fine vacuum source that the lamp is alternately filled with nitrogento a desired pressure, say about 200 mms., and exhausted to close tozero pressure. In a given case, the'timing may be such that the cam 83holds the vacuum valve 20 open for about 10.5 seconds, and the cam 70holds the nitrogen valve 21 open for about 4.5 seconds during eachrevolution. These alternations of flushing and exhausting may occurabout nine times over a period of about 2% minutes.

The third period (another flushing cycle) begins when respective highsurfaces 105 and 106 of cams 85 and 69 come into engagement withrespective rollers 89 and 68 to cause the shiftable arm portions 79 and61 to be moved to the right to bring their rollers 82 and 64 intoregistry with respective cams 84 and 71. This causes the lamp to beagain connected alternately with the fine vacuum through valve 20 andwith the nitrogen supply through valve 21 by the high surfaces 107 and108 of respective cams 84 and 71, but for different periods of time thanthose occurring during the second period described above. Also at thebeginning of this third period, power is applied to the filament of thelamp by connecting the terminal blocks 22 to a suitable source ofcurrent by means of a switch actuated by the cam 88 on shaft 51. Thepressure of nitrogen gas in the lamp may thus be varied between about400 mms. and 200 mms. during this period by avtiming such that the cam84 holds the fine vacuum valve 20 open for about 9 seconds, and the cam71 holds the nitrogen valve 21 open for about 6 seconds during eachrevolution. These alternations occur the lamp is turned off by the cam88.

The fourth period (final exhaust) begins when the cam 98 has rotated tobring a surface 109 of intermediate height into engagement with roller68 to thereby pull the shiftable arm 61 to a position between the cams70 and 71 and thereby permit the nitrogen valve 21 to be closed. Duringthis period, the high surface 105 of cam 85 remains in engagement withroller 89 so that the shiftable arm 79 is maintained to the right withits roller 82 in registry with cam 84 to thereby open the fine vacuumvalve 20 each time the high surface 107 engages roller 82. This periodlasts for approximately 30 seconds, or two revolutions of cam 84.

The fifth period (nitrogen fill) begins when the arm 79 is shifted tothe left to a neutral position between cams 83 and 84, to therebymaintain the fine vacuum valve 20 in closed position, by virtue of thefact that the cam 85 has rotated to again bring its surface 91 ofintermediate height into engagement with roller 89. At the same time,the cam 69 has brought a low surface 110 into engagement with roller 68to thereby shift the arm 61 to the left to bring its roller 63 intoregistry with cam 70 which again causes the nitrogen valve 21 to beopened 'by the high surface 102 of said cam during two revolutionsthereof. During this period, the lamp is filled with nitrogen to apressure of approximately 860 mms. When the lamp has attained thedesired pressure, the nitrogen supply is cut off by an electromagneticvalve 111 (Fig. 1) which is actuated in known manner by a pressuredetector (not shown). The cam shafts 48 and 51 continue to be rotated bythe motor 46 until power to the motor is shut off by a switch actuatedby a cam (not shown) on shaft 51.

When the lamp has cooled so that the gas pressure therein drops belowatmospheric, the exhaust tube 4 is fused and sealed off by the operator,the seal between the posts 3 and the glass base end of the bulb 2 beingprotected from the sealing fires by a suitable shield 112 (Fig. 2).

Instead of deriving the baking heat for the lamp by energizing itsfilament, the lamp may be heated by a separate external source such asgas flames. In that case it is not necessary to employ two separateflushing cycles (represented by the second and third periods asdescribed above). Further, in that event, it is not necessary to employa pair of actuating cams 70 and 71 for the nitrogen valve 21, nor a pairof actuating cams 83 and 84 for the fine vacuum valve 20. Rather, itwould be necessary to employ but one cam (say cam 70) for the nitrogenvalve, and one cam (say cam 83) for the fine vacuum valve, and therespective shifter arms 61 and 79 would then be moved between positionsin registry with the respective cams 70 and 83 and neutral positions outof registry with either cam. The resulting single flushing cycle (withvariations in nitrogen pressure between about 200 mms. and zeropressure) would be made to extend over a slightly larger period thaneither of the two separate cycles described above, say a periodcorresponding to about eleven to fifteen revolutions of shaft 48, bysuitable extension of the appropriate surfaces of shifter cams'69 and85.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changesand modifications in the arrangement and proportions of partsillustrated herein may be made without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States is: p

1. In a device of the character described comprising a fluid flowconduit and valve arranged to control flow of fluid through saidconduit, actuating means for said valve comprising a slow speed camshaft and a high speed cam shaft, means to drive said shafts atpredetermined diiferent speeds, an actuating cam on said high speedshaft, follower means connected to said valve and including a shiftablearm portion mounted to be moved into registry with said actuating cam orto a neutral position out of registry with said cam, said actuating cambeing configurated 'Lo eifect movement of said arm portion, when inregistry therewith, in directions to cause the follower means toalternately open and close said valve, a shifter cam on said slow speedshaft, and follower means connected to said shiftable arm portion andarranged to be actuated by said shifter cam, said shifter cam beingconfigurated to effect movement of said arm portion alternatively intoregistry with said actuating cam and to said neutral position forpredetermined periods of time.

2. In a device of the class described comprising a fluid flow conduitand valve arranged to control flow of fluid through said conduit,actuating means for said valve comprising a slow speed cam shaft and ahigh speed cam shaft, means to drive said shafts at predetermineddifferent speeds, a pair of actuating cams on said high speed shaft,follower means connected to said valve and including a shiftable armportion mounted to be moved into registry with either of said actuatingcams, said actuating cams each being configurated to effect movement ofsaid arm portion, when in registry therewith, in directions .to causethe follower means to alternately open and close said valve, saidactuating cams being differently configurated, one from the other, toprovide a different timing of the opening and closing of the valve, ashifter cam on said slow speed shaft, and follower means connected tosaid shiftable arm portion and arranged to be actuated by said shiftercam,,said shifter cam being configurated to effect movement of said armportion alternatively into registry with each of said actuating cams forpredetermined periods of time,

3. In a device of the class described comprising a fluid flow conduitand valve arranged to control flow of fluid through said conduit,actuating means for said valve comprising a slow speed cam shaft and ahigh speed cam shaft, means to drive said shafts at predetermineddifferent speeds, a pair of actuating cams on said high speed shaft,follower means connected to said valve and including a shiftable armportion mounted to be moved into registry with either of said actuatingcams and to a neutral position out of registry with either cam, saidactuating cams each being configurated :to effect movernent of said armportion, when in registry therewith, in directions to cause the followermeans to alternately open and close said valve, said actuating camsbeing differently configurated, one from the other, to provide adifferent timing of the opening and closing of the valve, a shifter camon said slow speed shaft, and follower means connected to said shiftablearm portion and arranged to be actuated by said shifter cam, saidshifter cam being configurated to effect movement of said arm portionalter natively into registry with each of said actuating cams and tosaid neutral position for predetermined periods of time.

4. In a device of the class described comprising a gas flow conduit anda vacuum conduit and separate valves arranged to control the flowthrough respective conduits, actuating means for said valves comprisinga slow speed cam shaft and a high speed cam shaft, means to drive saidshafts at predetermined different speeds, a gas valve actuating cam anda vacuum valve actuating cam on said high speed shaft, follower meansassociated with each said cam and connected to respective valves andeach including a shiftable arm portion mounted to be moved into registrywith its associated cam and to a neutral position out of registry withsaid cam, said actuating cams each being configurated to effect movementof its associated arm portion, when in registry therewith, in directionsto cause the respective follower means to alternately open and close itsassociated valve, a gas shifter cam and a vacuum shifter cam on saidslow speed shaft, and follower means associated with each shifter camand actuated thereby and connected to respective arm portions of thefollower means associated with the respective gas valve actuating camand vacuum valve actuating cam, each said shifter cam being configuratedto effect movement of its associated arm portion alternatively intoregistry with its associated actuating cam and to a neutral position outof registry with said cam for predetermined periods of time, the gasvalve actuating cam and vacuum valve actuating cam having theirrespective configurations correlated to effect opening of theirassociated valves at alternative times only.

5. In a device of the class described comprising a gas flow conduit anda vacuum conduit and separate valves arranged to control the flowthrough respective conduits, actuating means for said valves comprisinga slow speed cam shaft and a high speed cam shaft, means to drive saidshafts at predetermined different speeds, a pair of. gas valve actuatingcams and a pair of vacuum valve actuating cams on said high speed shaft,follower means associated with each pair of cams and connected torespective valves and each including a shiftable arm portion mounted tobe moved into registry with either of its associated cams and to aneutral position out of registry with either cam, said pairs of camseach being configurated to effect movement of its associated armportion, when in registry therewith, in directions to cause therespective follower means to alternately open and close its associatedvalve, the actuating cams of each said pair being differentlyconfigurated, one from the other, to provide a different timing of theopening and closing of its associated valve, 21 gas shifter cam and avacuum shifter cam on said slow speed shaft, and follower meansassociated with each shifter cam and actuated thereby and connected torespective arm portions of the follower means associated with therespective pairs of gas valve actuating cams and vacuum valve actuatingcams, each said shifter cam being configurated to effect movement of itsassociated arm portion alternatively into registry with each of theactuating cams of the associated pair and .to a neutral position out ofregistry with either cam of the pair for predetermined periods of time,the pairs of gas valve actuating cams and vacuum valve actuating camshaving their respective configurations correlated to effect opening oftheir associated valves at alternate times only.

6. In combination, a member adapted to be actuated to alternativepositions, and means for actuating said member between said positionsduring a predetermined period comprising a slow speed cam shaft and ahigh speed cam shaft, means to drive said shafts at predetermineddifferent speeds, an actuating cam on said high speed shaft, followermeans connected to said member and including a shiftable arm portionmounted to be moved into registry with said actuating cam or to aneutral position out of registry with said cam, said actuating cam beingconfigurated to effect movement of said arm portion, when in registrytherewith, in directions to cause the follower means to actuate saidmember between its said alternative positions, a shifter cam on saidslow speed shaft, and follower means connected to said shiftable armportion and arranged to be actuated by said shifter cam, said shiftercam being configurated to effect movement of said arm portionalternatively into registry with said actuating cam and to said neutralposition for predetermined periods of time.

7. In combination, a member adapted to be actuated to alternativepositions, and means for actuating said member for separate periods oftime in cycles differing in timing over each period and comprising aslow speed cam shaft and a high speed cam shaft, means to drive saidshafts at predetermined different speeds, a pair of actuating cams onsaid high speed shaft, follower means connected to said member andincluding a shiftable arm portion mounted to be moved into registry witheither of said actuating cams, said actuating cams each beingconfigurated to effect movement of said arm portion, when in registrytherewith, in directions to cause the follower means to actuate saidmember to its alternative positions, said actuating cams beingdifferently configurated, one from the other, to provide a differenttiming of the actuation of said member, a shifter cam on said slow speedshaft, and follower means connected to said shiftable arm portion andarranged to be actuated by said shifter cam, said shifter cam beingconfigurated to effect movement of said arm portion alternatively intoreigstry with each of said actuating cams for predetermined periods oftime.

8. In combination, a member adapted to be actuated to alternativepositions, and means for actuating said member for separate periods oftime in cycles differing in timing over each period and comprising aslow speed cam shaft and a high speed cam shaft, means to drive saidshafts at predetermined different speeds, a pair of actuating cams onsaid high speed shaft, follower means connected to said member andincluding a shiftable arm portion mounted to be moved into registry witheither of said actuating cams and to a neutral position out of registrywith either cam, said actuating cams each being configurated to effectmovement of said arm portion, when in registry therewith, in directionsto cause the follower means to actuate said member to its alternativepositions, said actuating cams being differently configurated, one fromthe other, to provide a different timing of the actuation of saidmember, a shifter cam on said slow speed shaft, and follower meansconnected to said shiftable arm portion and arranged to be actuated, bysaid shifter cam, said shifter cam being configurated to effect movementof said arm portion alternatively into registry with each of saidactuating cams and to said neutral position for predetermined periods oftime.

No references cited.

